Cryptographic-code cards.



E. H. HEBERN. CRYPTOGRAPHIC CODE CARDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 19:4.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

I'Al l GIFHM KYTUPZ'QEJSVNU cwBREXAD WITNESSES A TTORNE Y EDWARD H. HEBERN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

GRYPTOGRAPHIC-CODE canns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed February 24, 1914. Serial No. 820,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. HEBERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cryptographic- Code Cards, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a compact and readily changeable cryptographic code device.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device; Fig. 2- is a transverse section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a letter block.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a thin rectangular plate, having a long, narrow, central, rectangular depression 2. Fitting snugly in said depression are twentysiX rectangular blocks 3, in two rows of thirteen each, and having marked thereon the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. The sides and ends of the depression are cut above said letter blocks to form grooves 4: in the sides and one end, and a slot 5 in the other end.

6 indicates a transparent strip of celluloid or other suitable material passed through the slot 5, and edges of which are contained in the grooves i, and which lies over and closely against the faces of the blocks 3. On the face of the plate adjacent to the longitudinal sides of the depression and in register with the several spaces filled by the blocks are marked other characters 7 frequently in use, as the nine numerals, the cipher, the signs for the more commonly used fractions, and other characters.

Two persons wishing to communicate cryptographically with each other, arrange the letter blocks in the same order in two of these devices, but indiscriminately or irregularly. The characters then form a code, the cipher of each character being the character immediately above or below. Each letter may, however, represent one of the outer characters as well as another letter in the code. Thus the letter a may represent the fraction 5 as well as the letter q. On interpreting the message sent it will be immediately perceived, if the translation of one letter by another does not make sense, that the letter is supposed to represent an outer character 7 I claim 1. A cryptographic device having characters to be enciphered, one only of each character, arranged in irregular or fortuitous order in two parallel and equal rows, those in one row registering with those in the other.

2. A cryptographic device having characters to be enciphered, one only of each character, arranged in irregular or fortuitous order in two parallel and equal rows, those in one row registering with those in the other, and a row of other characters registering with the characters in the aforesaid rows.

3. A cryptographic device having characters to be enciphered, one only of each character, arranged in irregular or fortuitous order in two parallel and equal rows, those in one row registering with those in the other, and two rows of other characters, registering with the characters in the aforesaid rows.

4. In combination with an even number of uniform blocks having respectively printed thereon characters to be enciphered, a receptacle adapted to exactly contain said blocks in two parallel rows, the blocks of one row registering with those of the other.

5. In combination with an even number of uniform blocks having imprinted thereon different characters to be enciphered, a receptacle adapted to contain said blocks in two registering parallel rows and in such position that the imprinted characters are open to observation, and having imprinted thereon a row, registering with said blocks, of other characters.

6. In combination with an even number of uniform blocks having imprinted thereon different characters to be enciphered, a receptacle adapted to contain said letter blocks in two registering parallel rows and in such position that the imprinted characters are open to observation, andhaving imprinted thereon, registering with said blocks, a plurality of rows of other characters.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD H. HEBERN. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

